Sales and Marketinghttp://www.mbda.gov/taxonomy/term/91/all
enSix Hurdles Small Retailers Face During the Holiday Seasonhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/six-hurdles-small-retailers-face-during-holiday-season
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on December 3, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Holiday Shopping" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_holidayshopping.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" />Locally-owned small retailers can earn 50 percent or more of total annual sales during the critical holiday shopping period between Black Friday and New Year&rsquo;s Day. The business choices made during this important period can have direct effects on a small firm&rsquo;s cash flow for the entire year. The SBA surveyed several business counselors from the Colorado Small Business Development Centers and SCORE to compile this list of the top six hurdles small retailers face during the busy holiday shopping season.</p>
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<strong>Lack of inventory control</strong>. Inventory control is crucial for all small retailers, especially during the busy holiday sales months. It is important to remember that inventory equals profits, and knowing how much product to order, when to order it, and what items to order can make the difference between having cash in the bank or aging inventory on the shelves.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/six-hurdles-small-retailers-face-during-holiday-season" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthSales and MarketingWed, 03 Dec 2014 16:08:10 +0000asowah2936 at http://www.mbda.govGive Thanks to Your Customershttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/give-thanks-your-customers
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 26, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Thank you!" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_givethanks.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 201px; float: right;" />For retailers, this time of year is a hum of activity preparing for holiday sales. While B2B companies may find the holidays a slowdown, rather than a time of intense activity, smart B2B entrepreneurs will seize the season as an opportunity to build relationships with customers. What better way to do that (and what better time of year to do it) than by rewarding your loyal clients for their business?</p>
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A study by <a href="http://loyalty360.org/loyalty-today/article/marketing-profs-guest-post-the-changing-face-of-feedback" target="_blank">Loyalty360 reported in MarketingProfs</a>, more than 44 percent of B2B marketers say at least 60 percent of their <em>new</em> sales come from current customers.</p>
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Rewarding B2B customers is a bit different than rewarding B2C customers. You can&rsquo;t exactly offer a company a &ldquo;Buy 10 software system installs, get one free!&rdquo; punch card. Discounts don&rsquo;t work as well for B2B customers. Instead, try the opposite tack: Rather than providing products or services for less, reward your regular customers with something extra. Here&rsquo;s how.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/give-thanks-your-customers" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Sales and MarketingWed, 26 Nov 2014 19:51:13 +0000asowah2932 at http://www.mbda.gov5 Ways to Prepare for Small Business Saturdayhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/5-ways-prepare-small-business-saturday
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on November 17, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="November 29: Small Business Saturday!" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/nov29_shop.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 250px; float: right;" />November 29th is <a href="http://www.sba.gov/smallbusinesssaturday" target="_blank">Small Business Saturday</a>! That&rsquo;s right, the day after Black Friday and before Cyber Monday is your chance to make a lasting impact in your community by encouraging shoppers to shop local.</p>
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But just how big an impact does the day have? <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-02/small-business-saturdays-5-dot-7-billion-shopping-spree" target="_blank">According to research</a> by American Express and the National Federation of Independent Business, consumers who were aware of Small Business Saturday in 2013 spent $5.7 billion with independent merchants (a four percent increase over the previous year).</p>
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It also gained attention at the highest levels. President Obama championed the day and 41 state governors issued proclamations in support of the campaign.</p>
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Small Business Saturday is fast becoming a holiday tradition, and it&rsquo;s an especially powerful opportunity for brick-and-mortar retailers to boost holiday sales. Here are five steps you can take to make November 29th a big day for your small business.</p>
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<strong>Incorporate Small Business Saturday into Your Bigger Holiday Marketing Campaign</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/5-ways-prepare-small-business-saturday" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Sales and MarketingMon, 17 Nov 2014 18:04:45 +0000asowah2913 at http://www.mbda.govA New Strategy to “Drive” Small Business Growthhttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/financial-education/new-strategy-drive-small-business-growth
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on August 5, 2014</span><br />
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<img alt="Supply Chain" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/blog_supplychain.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" /></p>
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<em>Originally posted on the SBA.gov Blog</em></p>
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Three years ago, entrepreneur Maurice Brewster made one of the best business decisions of his life: He signed his limousine company, Mosaic Transportation, up for IBM&rsquo;s Supplier Connection &ndash; a collaboration between small businesses and the supply chains of Fortune 500 corporations</p>
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It was a wise decision because small firms that enter the supply chains of major corporations grow their revenue by an average of 250 percent and their workforce by an average of 150 percent.</p>
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In three years, Maurice has signed contracts with seven major corporations, grown Mosaic from 20 to 46 employees, and tripled his annual revenues. His company had lost half of its business during the Recession, but now it is reaping record profits. Maurice credits this remarkable turnaround to two things: he joined a corporate supply chain, and all seven of his new clients pay him up front with a corporate credit card.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/financial-education/new-strategy-drive-small-business-growth" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Financial EducationSales and MarketingTue, 05 Aug 2014 18:00:11 +0000asowah2738 at http://www.mbda.govChecklist: First Steps to Conduct E-Commercehttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/checklist-first-steps-conduct-e-commerce
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<img alt="E-Commerce" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/ecommerce.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" />The Internet&rsquo;s global reach has made possible a cost-effective means for marketing products and services overseas. Companies that establish a corporate web site, which publicizes their products and services, provide an electronic mechanism for safe and secure electronic transactions, features order tracking, and lists products&rsquo; technical specifications can easily apply electronic commerce to international marketing.</p>
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Small- and medium-sized companies can marshal available resources to broaden market presence internationally by adopting some of these e-commerce or electronic business practices.</p>
<h3>
Step-by-Step Guide to Going Online</h3>
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Use these steps as a guide to creating your website and marketing your company overseas using the Internet and key service providers.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/checklist-first-steps-conduct-e-commerce" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Conducting Business OnlineSales and MarketingTechnology and BusinessSat, 27 Oct 2012 00:01:37 +0000asowah1698 at http://www.mbda.govGlobal Web Experience: Localize and Internationalizehttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/global-web-experience-localize-and-internationalize
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<img alt="Global Web" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/globalwebcontent.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 200px; float: right;" />Companies seeking foreign audiences with their websites will want to either localize or internationalize their site, or provide a mixture of both processes. Forrester Research notes that &quot;visitors linger twice as long [on international sites] as they do at English-only web sites; business buyers are three times more likely to buy if addressed in their own language; and customer services costs drop when instructions are displayed in the user&#39;s language.&quot;</p>
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Localization consists of adapting one&rsquo;s website to meet the linguistic, cultural, and commercial requirements of a targeted market. Internationalizing a firm&rsquo;s website enables the company to be multilingual and to be sensitive to cultural conventions without the need for extensive redesign. Localization or internationalization must be part of the online exporter&rsquo;s corporate strategy for website and business development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/conducting-business-online/global-web-experience-localize-and-internationalize" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Conducting Business OnlineSales and MarketingTechnology and BusinessFri, 26 Oct 2012 23:22:04 +0000asowah1697 at http://www.mbda.govSBA Proposes Small Business Size Standard Revisions in Three Industry Sectorshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/sba-proposes-small-business-size-standard-revisions-three-industry-sectors
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on September 18, 2012</span><br />
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The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking comment on two proposed rules published this week in the Federal Register that would revise the small business size definitions for businesses in three North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sectors: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting; Finance and Insurance; and Management of Companies and Enterprises.&nbsp; The proposed revisions reflect changes in marketplace conditions.</p>
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The SBA proposed increasing 11 size standards in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Sector.&nbsp; Up to 7,500 more firms in this sector would become eligible for SBA loan and federal procurement programs, if adopted.</p>
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SBA also proposed increasing 32 revenue-based size standards and 5 asset-based size standards in the Finance and Insurance Sector.&nbsp; In addition, SBA proposed increasing two size standards in the Management of Companies and Enterprises Sector.&nbsp; Lastly, SBA proposed to change how it measures the size of International Trade Financing firms from average assets to average revenues.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/sba-proposes-small-business-size-standard-revisions-three-industry-sectors" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthSales and MarketingTue, 18 Sep 2012 19:04:47 +0000asowah1627 at http://www.mbda.govWeb Tool to Help Small Businesses Research their Marketshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/web-tool-help-small-businesses-research-their-markets
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<span style="font-size:10px;">Created on September 18, 2012</span><br />
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<em>SizeUp Allows Business Owners to Research Data and Analytics to Start or Grow a Business</em></p>
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Small business owners and start-ups across the country can now take advantage of a new business tool to help them compete and grow. The free tool, called <a href="http://www.sba.gov/sizeup" target="_blank">SizeUp</a>, helps businesses identify new customers and compare their performance against other businesses in their industry with data collected from hundreds of private and public sources. The tool can be found at <a href="http://www.sba.gov/sizeup" target="_blank">www.sba.gov/sizeup</a>.</p>
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&ldquo;Market research and analysis is critical for the success of any small business owner or entrepreneur. Tools like SizeUp deliver data right to the fingertips of business owners to help make smart decisions and have the greatest opportunity to start, grow, compete and succeed,&rdquo; said SBA Administrator Karen Mills. &ldquo;In today&rsquo;s challenging economic environment where small businesses create nearly all net new jobs in the U.S., help for small businesses is more important than ever before.&rdquo;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/web-tool-help-small-businesses-research-their-markets" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Sales and MarketingStarting a BusinessTue, 18 Sep 2012 18:51:37 +0000asowah1626 at http://www.mbda.govHow to Market Your Business at Summer Events, Fairs and Festivalshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/how-market-your-business-summer-events-fairs-and-festivals
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Summer&rsquo;s here and for most communities, that means the season of outdoor fairs, festivals and other events is underway. For a small business, community events like these can be a great opportunity to market your products and services to local residents and other event-goers. Here are some steps to get you started.</p>
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<strong>Research what events exist in your community and nearby communities.</strong> Your options might range from local &ldquo;fun runs,&rdquo; chili cook-offs or classic car shows to surfing contests or music festivals that bring in attendees from all over the country. If you&rsquo;re new to event marketing, you&rsquo;ll probably want to start at the smaller end of the spectrum.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/how-market-your-business-summer-events-fairs-and-festivals" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthSales and MarketingThu, 28 Jun 2012 12:31:04 +0000asowah1516 at http://www.mbda.govFree SBA Workshops will Help Native Americans Remove Small Business Barriershttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/free-sba-workshops-will-help-native-americans-remove-small-business-barriers
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The U.S. Small Business Administration, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis will hold a series of free workshops on &ldquo;Uniform Commercial Codes: Bringing Business to Indian Country.&rdquo;</p>
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The Uniform Commercial Codes workshops will help tribal affiliated organizations, tribal governments and Native American businesses understand how adopting a secured transaction code can increase economic development opportunities.</p>
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The workshops will demonstrate how to compete in the marketplace; identify roadblocks and solutions to secure---- business transactions in Indian Country; explain the significance of commercial laws to borrowers; and discuss why lenders must have the ability to secure loan transactions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/sales-and-marketing/free-sba-workshops-will-help-native-americans-remove-small-business-barriers" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Sales and MarketingFri, 01 Jun 2012 13:51:55 +0000asowah1485 at http://www.mbda.govFacts You Should Know About Federal Business Opportunitieshttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-federal-business-opportunities
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<img alt="FBO Screen Shot" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/fbo_gov_300px.jpg" style="width: 300px; height: 250px; float: right;" />Federal Business Opportunities commonly known as <a href="http://www.fbo.gov" target="_blank">Fed Biz Ops</a> or FBO is a free web-based portal which allows vendors to review Federal Procurement Opportunities over $25,000.</p>
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<strong>Purpose: Federal Opportunities, Data Research</strong></p>
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<strong>Who should register in Fed Biz Ops?</strong></p>
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Any business enterprise registered in the <a href="/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-central-contractor-registration-ccr">CCR</a> that would like to search for federal procurement opportunities value at $25,000 or greater</li>
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<strong>What is required to register?</strong></p>
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Registered vendors should complete a standard business profile that include, DUNS, CAGE, and MPIN numbers</li>
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<strong>Who can access Fed Biz Ops?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-federal-business-opportunities" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthProcurement Matching, Contracting OpportunitiesSales and MarketingTue, 27 Mar 2012 13:09:38 +0000asowah1358 at http://www.mbda.govFacts You Should Know About Online Representation and Certification (ORCA)http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-online-representation-and-certification-orca
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<a href="https://orca.bpn.gov/" target="_blank"><img alt="OCRA Screen Shot" src="/sites/default/files/uploads/images/orca.JPG" style="width: 213px; height: 220px; float: right;" />ORCA</a> is an e-Government initiative that was designed by the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) to replace the paper based Representations and Certifications (Reps and Certs) process.</p>
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Purpose: Client Research</p>
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<strong>Who should register in OCRA?</strong></p>
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A respondent to a government solicitation where a CCR registration is required</li>
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<strong>What is required to register?</strong></p>
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An active CCR registration</li>
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A Marketing Partner ID (MPIN) from the Active CCR registration (a personal pin that allows CCR registrants to access other government applications such as <a href="http://Grants.gov" target="_blank">Grants.gov</a> and <a href="http://FBO.gov" target="_blank">FBO.gov</a>)</li>
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Annual registration update is required</li>
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<strong>Who can access OCRA?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-online-representation-and-certification-orca" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthProcurement Matching, Contracting OpportunitiesSales and MarketingTue, 20 Mar 2012 14:46:59 +0000asowah1353 at http://www.mbda.govFacts You Should Know About SBA Dynamic Small Business Search (DSBS)http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-sba-dynamic-small-business-search-dsbs
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<a href="http://web.sba.gov/pro-net/search/dsp_dsbs.cfm" target="_blank">DSBS</a> is a free portal sponsored by the Small Business Administration, used for entering and searching small business sources that want to do business with the Federal Government</p>
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<strong>Purpose: Client Resource, Marketing Businesses</strong></p>
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<strong>Who should register in DSBS?</strong></p>
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Small businesses that want to do business with the federal government</li>
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Small businesses that meet the SBA size standards</li>
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<strong>What is required to register?</strong></p>
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Register in CCR and indicate &ldquo;small business&rdquo; to generate registration</li>
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Basic business profile, i.e. certifications, set-asides, ownership &amp; capabilities</li>
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Generally self-certifying system</li>
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<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-sba-dynamic-small-business-search-dsbs" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthProcurement Matching, Contracting OpportunitiesSales and MarketingTue, 13 Mar 2012 15:38:21 +0000asowah1338 at http://www.mbda.govFacts You Should Know About Central Contractor Registration (CCR)http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-central-contractor-registration-ccr
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<a href="http://www.bpn.gov/ccr" target="_blank">Central Contractor Registration</a> (CCR) is the official, free on-line registrant database for the U.S. Federal Government. CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition and award missions.</p>
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<strong>Purpose: Client Resource, Marketing Businesses</strong></p>
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<strong>Who should register in CCR?</strong></p>
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Current and potential vendors must be registered in CCR prior to an award or contract, basic agreement, basic ordering, or blanket purchase agreement [<a href="https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%204_11.html" target="_blank">See FAR 4.11</a>]</li>
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Private non-profits, educational organizations, state and regional agencies that apply for assistance awards via grants.gov must now register with CCR</li>
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A foreign company that performs work outside the US is required to register in the CCR system in order to be awarded a contract [<a href="https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%204_11.html" target="_blank">See FAR 4.1102(a)(5)</a>]</li>
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Exceptions are reserved for classified contracts (<a href="https://www.acquisition.gov/far/current/html/Subpart%202_1.html#wp1145508" target="_blank">see 2.101</a>) or contracts to support unusual or compelling needs</li>
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<p>
<strong>What is required to register?</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/facts-you-should-know-about-central-contractor-registration-ccr" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthProcurement Matching, Contracting OpportunitiesSales and MarketingMon, 05 Mar 2012 15:11:07 +0000asowah1324 at http://www.mbda.govSBA Proposed Size Standard Increases for Health Care and Social Assistancehttp://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/sba-proposed-size-standard-increases-health-care-and-social-assistance
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The SBA also issued a proposed rule to increase the small business size standards for 28 industries in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.&nbsp;&nbsp; As many as 4,100 additional firms could become eligible for SBA&rsquo;s programs and services if the proposed increases are adopted.&nbsp;</p>
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Comments can be submitted on this proposed rule on or before April 24, 2012, at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=SBA-2012-0003-0001" target="_blank">Regulations.gov</a>, identified by RIN 3245-AG30, where they will be posted.&nbsp; You may also mail comments to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Size Standards Division, 409 3rd St., SW, Mail Code 6530, Washington, DC&nbsp; 20416.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.mbda.gov/blogger/established-businesses-and-growth/sba-proposed-size-standard-increases-health-care-and-social-assistance" target="_blank">read more</a></p>Established Businesses and GrowthInteragencySales and MarketingWed, 29 Feb 2012 13:47:32 +0000asowah1313 at http://www.mbda.gov